| Coming soon: an Italian Renaissance in Embedded Linux? |
Dec. 18, 2000
Over the past several years, Italy has been home to considerable embedded and real-time Linux development. For example, two well known embedded Linux projects spawned on Italian soil are ETLinux, an open source small footprint Embedded Linux developed by PROSA, and RTAI, a real-time Linux enhancement created at the Department of Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Milano (DIAPM).
But while RTAI has flourished, EtLinux development has suffered somewhat of a setback this year.
Whither, EtLinux?
EtLinux development appears to have been scaled back substantially, following the late-1999 acquisition of PROSA by Linuxcare. This is confirmed by a quick visit to the EtLinux website, where there is little evidence of project activity since last February or March. One EtLinux developer characterized the situation following the acquisition as a shift towards contract development and away from product development (beyond a few minor enhancements), "since we are buried with work for paying customers."
By October, that "shift" took on a new twist, with a report by Linuxgram that Linuxcare was closing down Linuxcare Italia. A source within Linuxcare Italia confirmed the rumor, telling LinuxDevices.com that "after one year, while Linuxcare stopped any attempt to further develop EtLinux by PROSA, they have [decided to] close European operations." Linuxcare's CEO, Art Tyde, explained his company's plan to dissolve its Italian subsidiary this way: "to really get Europe off the ground, we would have had to invest a large amount of money [which is] not the best business strategy [for Linuxcare] today."
Notwithstanding Linuxcare's lack of priority on EtLinux development, embedded Linux developers have continued to express strong interest in it for future embedded designs, as evidenced by data collected in LinuxDevices.com's Embedded Linux Market surveys. Recognizing the continued interest in EtLinux, a former employee of PROSA recently told LinuxDevices.com, "we hope to restart developing EtLinux."
Filling the vacuum
Perceiving a substantial and growing opportunity in Italy for Embedded Linux, Mauro Barella (CEO), Roberto Siagri (President), and Raffaele Bulfoni (VP of Sales and Marketing) founded Ascensit, in July, 2000.
"Ascensit has developed A-Linux, a framework used to generate distributions customized according to the client's needs and supported hardware," explains CEO Barbella. "Our plan is to focus on providing services to the companies that would like to get all the advantages of the Linux OS and the open source software in general. That means primarily consulting, but also customized and optimized distributions, middleware development, device driver software, and porting services. We will [also] develop proprietary software modules whenever required by the client; otherwise all software will be GPL. Of course, we will charge for service, support, and tools."
The company intends to develop an Internet-based direct support network as well as a third-party partnership program that will provide Linux-based products, applications, education, training, technical support, and tools for embedded market. Ascensit also will selectively provide full "turnkey" system solutions -- complete packages that include hardware, software, industrial design, and services.
With respect to application focus, the company is not limiting its interest to any particular specialization within the highly diverse embedded market, at this time. "At the moment, the majority of [our customers'] applications are in the field of Internet appliances and real-time applications," says Barella.
"Ascensit would like to be a member of the open source community and everything will follow the GPL rules. Software will be available for free download from our website a few weeks after completion of the products," Barella adds.
What's next?
Ascensit is organized in two divisions -- one focused on Embedded Linux, and the other on Linux-based enterprise computing. The company recently sponsored Italy's first Real-time and Embedded Linux Workshop (story), held last month in Milan, and intends to sponsor several hands-on Embedded Linux workshops in Italy during the coming year.
The company is still in startup mode -- having just six employees -- Barella, Siagri, and Bulfoni, plus three additional employees including two developers. Plans are to increase the technical team by ten during the first quarter of 2001, and then to grow the company to an overall staff of around twenty by year end. Although Ascensit's initial focus is on the Italian Embedded Linux market, "it will be progressively exported to the other European countries," points out Barella.
Related stories:
Two Euro embedded & real-time Linux workshops
The Architecture and Development of EtLinux
EtLinux embedded Linux distribution
Linuxcare . . . Acquires ET Linux Developer Prosa
(Click here for further information)
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